China allows ping pong champ a girlfriend

As the reigning table tennis world champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist, China's Wang Hao just about had it all – except a girlfriend.

The 25-year-old had been barred from dating other players in the national programme until recently, when team officials permitted his relationship with former China representative Peng Luyang, 23, the government-owned China Daily reported Wednesday.

"Both of them are old enough and it's normal," the newspaper quoted Peng's coach, Qiao Yunping, as saying.

Strict control of athletes' personal lives is common in China's rigid state-run sporting system, which grooms young hopefuls in specialised sports schools around the country to become gold medalists, providing them with intensive training and food, clothes and shelter.

Under the watchful eye of team officials, star athletes are often banned from dating or marrying until a certain age, restricted in endorsement contracts and sometimes have a percentage of their winnings directed back into the system.

Athletes who date without permission risk being punished. In 2004, Wang started dating a female member of the national squad, Fan Ying, but officials kicked Fan off the national team.

Media reports said Wang avoided punishment at the time because his world ranking was much higher than Fan's.

- AP